Speed-changing mechanism.



LC. DORR.

SPEED CHANGING MBHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY a, 1913.

Patented `00u. 2.7, 1914.

4 SHBETSSHvlIET l.

J. C. DORR. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 2, 11113. l, 1 l 5,056., Patented oet. 27, 1914.

4 SHEBTS*SHEET 2.

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J. C. DORE.

SPEED CHANGING MEGHANISM. APPLICATION IILED MAY 2.1913.

1,1 15,058. Patented 0ct.27,1914.

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.miens` c. Donn, or iiAnsviLLE, NEW YoRK'.

f SPEED-CHANGING MECHANISM.

Speeicetion of Iletters Patent.

Application filed May 2, 1913. Serial No. 764,984.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES C. Donn, a citizen of the'sUnited States, residing at'Dansville, in the county ofLivingston and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Speed-Changing Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecification. l

This invention relates to frietional power transmission devices andparticularly to means for transmitting power from. a driving member to adriven member which is. capable of acting both as a clutch and as aspeed changing mechanism.

The present invention is designed primarily for use as a transmissiondevice Ifor motor vehicles but it is obviously applica-- ble to otheruses. In. accordance with the invention a pair of friction members ordisks are provided, oneof which is connectediwith any suitable powerdevice and will be termed the driving disk, while the other is connectedwith the member tohe driven and will be termed the driven disk l"ower istransmitted through the engageinent of the lateral faces of these diskswhereby the shafts on wliih the disks are mounted may be placed in suchapproximate alineinent as to permit the use of what' is known as shaftdrive for the vehicle in place of chain drive, which has been requiredrby many of the friction drives which have heretofore been proposed 'formotor vehicles.

The present invention provides a novel and peculiar configuration forthe engaging faces of 'the friction disks whereby relative movement ofthe disks may beV utilized to vary the speed of transmission and also toreverse the direction of travel of the vehicle, thelengaging faces beingso shaped, however, that approximately true rolling contact is securedVat all times, such Contact invariably being line as distinguished frompoint Contact.l By reason ofthe novel configuration olfthese surfaces,va wide range ot relativc-fmoveinent and `consequently of speed-'variatioii is possible, wear isminiinized and frictional engagementadequate to drive the vehicle under V,any andall conditions is assured.A

ln the accompanying drawings: Fi ure 1 is a side elevation cfa in otorve nele chassis provided with a transmission mecha- :nisni embodying oneforni of the present invention, parts being shown in section and theoutlines of the vehicle body being indicated in dotted lines. I iig. 2is a section, on an enlarged scale, through the friction disks of the'transmission mechanism showing the direct clutch-like'engagement of thedisks when their axes are mined, as when driving at high speed. Fig. 3 aside elevation of a portion lof the transmission mechanism, the drivin"rdisk beine' shown in vertical section and the driven dis i being shiftedso as to beV driven uta reduced speed.. Fig. et is a vertical sectionthrough a part of the vehicle, showing the friction disks and theirsupporting devices in side elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical scctionthrough a part of the vehicle showing the friction disks in section andillustrating the position of the driven disk when the vehicle is to bedriven backward. Fig. is afront elevation of the segment for lockinglthe disk shifting lever. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of thevehicle chassis and transmissionmechanism. Fig. B a siini lar view of amodified construction. Fig. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of Fig. 7. Fig.10 is a detail View showing the shifting i'nechanisin for the drivingdisk ofV the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. ll is adiagrammatic view illustrating the relative positions occupied bythefriction disks in driving at diiferent speeds and on reverse. Figs.12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic sectional views on lines XII- XH, XIII-XIII and XIV--XIV,`respec tively, of Fig. 11. y

Having especial reference to Figs. llto 14, it will be seen that thetransmission device of the present invention comprises essen.-

tially two friction members or disks il `and- 2, either of which may actas the driving member, although in the specific embodiment of theinvention shown, l is the driving incii'iber and 2 the driven member.When the driven ni niber is,l to be' rotated Iat the same speed thedriving n'einbcr, the axes-of the two lineinbers are in aline-Pittelited Oct. 27, 1914-.`

ment as shown in position a in Fig. l1, and Fig. 2, and the drive isdirect just as though the disks were members of an ordinary frictionclutch. The alined axes of rotation of the disks l and 2 is representedin Fig. l1 by the `line -g/, and in the further consideration ot theoperation ot tlie.disks the axis of rotation of disk l is considered toremain stationary in this line. lfVhen the driven member is to berotated at a diilerent speed 'from the driving member, the axes of thedisks are angularly displaced so as to bring a portion of the surface ofone of the disks of large radius into contact with a portion ofthesurface of the other disk of less radius, as shown, for example, in Figiy 3 and in positions b and c in Fig. ll.

j at which the cenni' e the surface of the other disk on the oppdisplacing the disks to such an extent that a portion of the surface *atone side of the axis of one of the disks engages a portion of Q siteside of the axis thereof, the two disks will be driven in oppositedirections, thereby reversing the direction of' m vement of the drivendisk. Such relative position of the disks is indicated in F ig. 5 and inpositions Z and e in Fig. ll. The desired relative adjustment ofthedisks is preferably. secured by mounting one of the disks, as shown, the`iisk l, to rotate about a fixed axis., while the other disk rotatesabout a swinging axis. The two axes are brought into alinement' when thedriven disk is being rotated at the same speed as the driving` disk, asalready statend. In or der to secure satisfactory engagement be tweenthe disks :tor all relative positions thereof as the axis of the disk 2is swung out of alinement with the axis of the disk l, the tace 3 ofdisk l is concaved, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and ll, by having an annulardepression termed therein, the locus oithe centers of curvature of theradical elements of which is a. circle whose plane is pcrj'iendicular tothe axis ot disk land passes through the center or centers about whichdisk 2 swings and whose radius equals the distance oit swinging movementof the axis of the disk is removed from the axis of rotation of the diskl. 3 of the diskil has a sort of cuspidal torni rising to a point orcusp in the middle, as clearly shown in the drawings. imagining asection to be taken through the disks in the plane in which thcuaxis ofthe disk .2 swings, whichis what is shown in ll, it will be seen thatthe contour of the surface of the disk l may be considered as describedby two radii and g swingingI about centers 7L and e' located at oppositesides. of and at equal distances from the axis of rotation ol' the diskl, e..Y ended, as indicated by the line .a-jy. The driving` face of thedisk Q is divided into two ainuzlar surfaces et and 5, the contour ofthe surface/l being de- The si u'tace scribed by the radius f swingingabout the center /i whereby this portion of the disk surface will titthe surface of the disk 1 as the aXis of the disk 2 swings about thecen= ter it. l/Vhen the periphery of the disk 2 passes the axis x-y, sothat the relative directions of rotation of the disks are reversed, thecenter about which the axis of the disk 2 is swung is changed from thepoint 71, to the point z', whereupon it will be seen that the portion'of the driving surface of the disk 2 engages and follows the surface ofthe disk 1, as s own in positions (Z and e in Fig. l1. The contour ofthe surface 5 is described by the radius g swinging about the center e',whereby it will be seen that the surface 5 lits the surface of the diskl as the axis ol the disk 2 swings about the center z'. At all timesafter the axes of the disks move out of allnement, a theoretical lineContact is secured between the surface 3 of the disk l and either thesurface 4 or the surface 5 of the disk 2. Owing to the shape of thesurface 3 and to the fact that the axis of the disk 2 swings about acenter at one side of the axis .o3-y, there will always be a clearancebetween the edges' of the disk 2 and the disk l, as indicated .at 6 inAFigs. l2, 13 and 14, so that substantial rolling contact is securedbetween the engaging portions of the surfaces ot the disks at all timesand sliding Contact is reduced toa minimum.

lt will be understood that the disksv havi ing surfaces of theconguration indicated and swinging about centers as specified, may beemployed in anj7 relation where it is desired to transmitpower by meansof friction gearing., and that either the disk l lor the disk 2 ma beused as thedrivinfr b disk The invention is, however,P primarilyintended for transmission devices for motor vehicles and the like and anembodiment of the invention in a motor vehicle will theretore" now bedescribed in detail.

iis'shown in l, 10 is the trameof a motor vehicle chrssis on which ismounted the motor 11 which drives the crankshaft l2). rlhe disk l of thefriction transmission fhrinism is securd to the end of this shaft, whilethe disk -2 ismounted on the end ot a shaft 13 which is operatively connected by means, such as a universal joint 14, to a shaft l5 'whichdrives the rear wheels of the vehicle 'in'any ,suitable manner, :isthrough a differential gearing 1G. A flexible shaft or othersuital'ile'device may obviously be substituted for the universal joint.The shatL i3 is supported in any suitable manner permitting it to swing,preferably by being journaled in a swinging frame 17 having a pivotalconnection with the :traine 1U. ln, the preferred construction of 'theinvention the side mcn'ibers of the traine i7 terminate in plates 1.8having curved slotsV iid izo.

19 and 20 therein, the' latter of which is preferably twice the lengthof the former. Pins 21 and 22 lpass through these slots and fornicenters corresponding to the centers z, and fi, indicated in Fig. 11,about which the frame 17 carrying the shaft 13, successively pivots.Fig. L1 shows the frame and shaft in their lowest positions, the ends ofthe slots 19 resting against the pins 21. As the Yframe and shaft areswung upward so as to shift the disk 2 relative to the disk 1 fordriving at slower speeds, the frame pivots about the pins 21 as shown inFig. 3. The pins 21 continue to act as the axis of move- ."ifent for theframe until the portion of the disk 2 engaging' the disk 1 passes theaxis of rotation of the latter, at which time the?7 ends o the slots 2()engage the pins 22 as indicated in Fig. 5. This engagement causes theaxis about which the frame swings to shift from the 'pins 21 to the pins22, this new axis corresponding to the center i shown in Fig. 11. ltwill thus be seen that further swinging oli the frame 17 and shaft 13will Cause the portion 5 of the surface ol the disk 2 to engage and movein Contact with the surface of the disk 1. When the shaft andframe arelowered, the reverse action takes place.

The swinging movement of the frame, shaft anddisk may be controlled inany suitable manner, as hy means of a lever 223 having arms nivoted tothe lraine at 21 and 25 and projecting up to a. position within` reachof the driver of the vehicle. Any suitable means may be utilized forlocking the lever and frame in various positions, the construction.shown for this purpose consisting oi a segment 26 having a slot 27therein through which the end of the lever 23 passes, this slot beingprovided in one wall with a series ol' notches 28 adapted to be engagedby a tooth 29 on the side ofthe lever. The lever being pivoted to theframe 17 may be swung so as to move the tooth 29 into or outof thenotches 28. spring 80 is preferably provided -for normally holding thetooth 29 in one of the notches. It will be understood that any otherlockingmeans may be utilized or that any other arrangement for swingingthe shaft of the disk 2 may be employed and that suchshaft may he swungdownward or laterally instead of upward if desired. i

The engaging surfaces of the disks 1 and 2 may be formed of any suitablesubstances between which there-'is a satisfactory coefficient offriction. F or instance, one'of the disks may be of metal while theother is faced with fiber. As shown, the ,disk l has a metal bearingsurface while the disk 2 has secured to it a liber ring.,r 31 on whichare formed the annular surfaces 4 and Means disks 1 and 2 in Contact,these means preferably heilig of such nature that the disks may beseparated so as to disconnect the motor from the driving wheels. In thisWay the transmission disks may be made totake the place of a clutch aswell as of a speed changing device and thus perform the entirefunctiensr of both clutch and transmission in the ordinary motorvehicle, although it is to be` understood that a separate clutch may belused in connection with the speed changing disks if found desirable ornecessary.

The' means shownh in Figs. 1 to 7. and in Fig. 9 lor moving the disksinto and out of contact and for holding them in driving engagement,comprise' a pair of bars 35 which carry the pins 21 and 22 and which aresecured to thc frame of the vehicle in such manner as to be capable etlimited longitudinal movement. As shown, the bars are supported adjacentto the pins 21 and 22 by means of pins 3G sliding in longitudinal slots87 formed in blocks 38 attached to the frame of the vehicle. Attheirfront ends the hars` 35 are pivotcd by pivots 39 to lever arms Ll()fixed to a transverse shaft 111 journaled in the frame 1Q. Also fixed tothe shaft lt1 is a level` 42 provided with a `foot pedal 43 by which theshailt 41 may be rocked and the bars 35 moved longitudinally, as will beunderstood. The bars are normally drawn -forward, carrying with them theframe 17, shaft/123 and disk 2, 'b'y one or more strong springs A'14which thus serve to hold the disk 2 in rm driving engagement with thedisk 1. A pair of these springs L111 is preferably used, each springbeing securedat one end to a lug 115 on one of the bars 35, and at theother end to across member 46 of the vehicle frame. The disk 2 is heldin driving engagement with the disk 1 by these springs at allv timesexceptwhen the disks are separated by pressure upon the foot pedal 43.Any suitable locking means for this edal may be utilized if desired, soas to loci; and retain the disks in separated position. A, `pair ofsprings 17 may be provided if desired, engaging lugs l18 on the plates18 ol the frame 17 and heilig anchored to any fixed part of the frame,suchas the cross bar 19. The springs 17, which are weaker than thcsprings 44, serve to' partially or wholly balance theweight of the frame17, shaft-13 and disk 2 so as to facilitate the shifting thereof. Wherethe frame and disk are moved upward as illus= trated, a suitablehousing, such as indicated at 50, 'may be provided to receive the same.

Figs. 8 and 10 show a` modified construction in which the pins 2l and22, upon which the frame 17 swings, instead of being carried by movablebars 35, are mounted directly upon the frame of the vehicle. Thus areprovided for landing the vsurfaces of the theframe 17, shaft 13 and disk2 have a i l2 of the motor.

swinging movement only, instead' of both a is slidably and rotatablymounted in a bearing 58 carried by the cross bar 46 of the vehicleframe. The disk lis urged toward the disk 2 by means of a spring 59,preferably surrounding the tubular member 57 and the shaft 56. In orderto move the disk 1 away from the disk 2 so as to relieve the drivingpressure between the two or entirely disengage the disks, any suitabledevice may be utilized.- As shown, the stem has a groove 60 formedtherein in which fit the arms of a forked lever 6l secured to atransverse rock shaft 62. rllhe latter is rocked'by means of a lever 63provided with. a foot pedal 64 or otherwise.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a transmission isprovided which maybe caused to act both as a clutch and as a speedchanging mechanism. rllhe construction of the device is, hovever, nomore coniplicated than that of the ordinary friction `clutch novycommonly employecLin Amotor .vehicles so that it will be seen that theinvention accomplishes a saving in 4cost of constructionequivalent tothe entire cost of the speed changing mechanipms employed in most motorvehicles.l rlhe entire control of the transmission mechanism isaccomplished' by means of the lever and foot pedal shown. Perfect speedcontrol is possible and at all speeds, both forward and reverse, asubstantially perfect rolling line Contact is secured between the diskswhich results in the transmission of adequate power with a minimum ofwear a-nd transmission loss. At the higher speeds, direct drive is.provided for by the direct engagement ofthe two disks in the manner ofa clutch, under which conditions there is no transmission loss and Aiowear whatever upon the disks.

I claimas my invention:

l. A speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors having engaginglateral faces, one of said rotors being movable relatively to the otherrotor, andy means for moving said movablenrotor about one center duringa part of'its movement and about another center during the other part ofits movement.

2. A speed changing mechanism includ- The stem 55'of the disk 1 .ing intlie'opposite direction.

ing a pair of rotors having engaging lateral faces, one of said rotorsbeing movable relatively to the other rotor, and means for vswingingsaid movable rotor about a center located at one side ofthe axis ofrotation thereof during a part of the movement of said rotor, andaboutfa center located at the opposite side of the axis during the otherpart of the movement of said rotor.

3. A speed changing mechanism,includ-` center during another part of itsangular adjustment.

4. A speed' changing mechanism including a pair of rot-ors havingengaging lateral faces, one rotorhaving an annular concave face whichhas a central prominence, and means for swinging the other rotor aboutra .point concentric with an element of said.

concave face extending radially of the rotor, into a plurality ofpositions in each of 'which said faces are in engagement.

5. A. speed changing mechanism includ ing a pair of rotors rotatableabout axes` capable of relative angular adjustment, said rotors havingengaging lateral faces one of which is provided with an annulardepression surrounding a' central promiiience,jthe

face of the other rotor having an annular convex bearing surface fittingin said de-.

pression and means for swinging said rotor vhaving the convex face about`a point con-- centric with an element of said annular' de pressionextending radially of the rotor.

6. A `speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors, one having anannular concave depression in a'latcral face thereof surrounding acentral prominence, .the 'second rotor being mounted on a shaft arrangedto swing about a center at one side of the axis thereof, said secondrotor'baving a face adapted to engage the surface of the concavedepression of the first rotor.

7. A speed Achanging mechanism including a pair of rotors rota-tableabout axes capable of relative, angular adjustment, said rotors havingengaging lateral faces,'\one of which is provided vwith two bearingsurfaces adapted tol engage the bearing surface of the other rotor, oneofl said surfaces being adapted to engage the other rotor at one side oftheaXial center thereof for driving in one'direction, and the othersurfacebe ing adapted toengage the other rotor at the other side of theaxial. couter for driv 8. speed changing mechanism includM surroundining a pair of rotors, one having an annular concave depression in alateral `face thereof a central prominence, the second rotor eingmounted on a shaft arranged to swing about either of two centers locatedon opposite sides of the axis of said shaft, said second rotor 'having apair of bearing surfaces adapted respectively to engage the bearingsurface of the first rotor when the shaft of the second rotor is swungabout one or the other of said centers A. speed changing mechanismincluding a pair'of rotors, one of which has an annular concave bearingsurface, the radial elements of which are described by radii swingingabout centers, the locus of which is a circle whose plane isperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotor, the second rotorhaving a lateral face adapted to engage the concave bearing surface ofsaid first rotor, said-second rotor being arranged to swing about acenter lying in said locus circle.

10. A speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors, one of whichhas an annular concave bearing surface, the radial' elements of' whichare described by radii swinging about centers, the locus of which is acircle whose plane is perpendicular t0 theaxis of rotation of saidrotor, the sec' ond rotor having a lateral face provided with two convexbearing surfaces adapted toengage the concave bearing surface of saidfirst rotor on opposite sides of the axis of rotation thereof, saidsecond rotor being arranged to swing about one or4 the other of twocenters lying at opposite ends of a diameter of said locus circle.

11. A speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors havingengaging lateral faces, one of said rotors being mounted to rotate abouta fixed center, 'a shaft on which the other rotor is mounted, a movableframe in which said shaft is journaled, said frame being adapted toswing about one center during a part of the movement of said frame andabout another center spaced at a distance from said first mentionedcenter during another part of the movement of said frame.

12. A speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors, one of which`has an annular concave depression in a lateral face thereof surroundinga central prominence, the second rotor being mounted on one end of ashaft, a frame in which said shaftw is journaled, and a pair of pivotalsupports for said frame locatedv adjacent to the opposite end of theshaft and on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the axis ofsaid shaft, said frame being adapted to swing alternately about saidcenters, said second rotor having bearing surfaces adapted to engagewith the concavebearing surface of rotor, and

said first rotor upon opposite sides of the axis thereof when said frameis swung about one or the other of said centers.

13. A speed changing mechanism including a rotor havinglan annularoilcavedeiession in a lateral face tlicreo surrounding a centralprominence, a second 'rotor havingabearing surfaceyadapted to 'enga ethe sui-face of the concave de ression oftiie first rotor, a shaft onthe en' of which said second rotor is mounted, a frame in which saidshaft isjournal'ed; curved slots in the end of said frame lremote fromsaidsecond ivot pins fitting in said slots, saidpins a apted to actalternately as pivf` otal supports about which said frame may` be swung.

A14:. speed changing mechanism includ# ying a rotor having an annularconcave depressionin a lateral face thereof surrounding a centralprominence, a second rotor having a bearing surface adapted to engagethe surface'of the concave' depression of the first rotor, a shaft onthe end of which said second rotoris mounted, a frame in which saidshaft is journaled, curved slots in the end of said frame remote fromsaid second rotor, pivot pins fitting in said slots, said pins adaptedto act alternately as pivotal supports about which said frame may beswung, a movable memberon which said pins are mounted, and means formoving said mem-4 'face of the concave depression of the ist;

rotor, a shaft on the end of which said second rotor is mounted, a framein which said shaft is journaled, curved slots in the end of said frameremote from said second rotor, pivot pins fitting in said slots, saidpins adapted to act alternately as pivotal supports about which saidframe may be swung, a movable member on which said pins are mounted, aspring for moving Vsaid member in one direction, and a lever for movingsaid member in the opposite direction.

16. A speed changing mechanism including a pair of rotors havingengaging lateral faces, a shaft upon the end of which one of said rotorsis mounted, a frame in which said shaft is journalcd and which is adated to swing about an axis located at one si e of the axis of rotationof said rotor, a movable member to which said frame is pivoted, and

eans for moving said member in one direction or the other to cause saidfaces of said rotors to be brought into driving engagement or to beseparated.

17. A speed changingmechanism including a pair of rotors 11a-vlugengaging lateral v faces, a shaft upon the end ofwhieh one of Saidrotors is mounecl, a fra-me in which said shaft is journaled and whichis adapted to swing about an axis located at one side of the axis ofrotation of seid rotor, a, movable member to which said 'frame ispivot-ed, a spring act-ing to move said member to hold 10 the faces ofsaid rotors 1n driving engagesaid faces.

lliitness my hand this 28th day of April, l 1913. f

JAMES C. URR.

Witnesses JAMES M. EDWARDS, `W1Lnmn MORRIS.

